A study and summary of the investigational activities of the McDonald forest with recommendations PublicDeposited

Descriptions

In the preparation of this thesis, the writer does not claim to have discovered any great truths or their underlying causes. As the title indicates, the work is a summary of some of the more important investigational activities on the McDonald Forest. This line of endeavor was chosen because it is the belief of the writer that forest research projects which consider time as an element or variable should be kept up-to-date. By so summarizing the data of each period, it is thought that the greatest value will be derived from the problem. Accordingly, the writer has used much data collected by former students and has augmented it when necessary with data collected by himself,. It is not considered necessary to acknowledge the particular individuals who may have collected part of some data assigned to be collected by a class. Rather, the acknowledgement has been made to the class. It has been the policy in the classes in silviculture to require each student. to do some piece of original work or to continue a project previously started. This requirement serves a double purpose: the students obtain some experience in the rudiments of research and some facts are derived ii the process. Many of the studies covered in this thesis have so originated. In all oases, except where data was collected by the writer, the data was obtained from the original notes filed by the students with Prof. T. J. Starker, the major professor. In order to expand the investigational activities, the writer has proposed and initiated certain studies but has only done so in cooperation with the under the supervision of Prof. Starker. It is hoped that this thesis will be of service in so far as it brings up to date the essence of a mass of data. The writer wishes to express his appreciation to Prof. Starker for his interest, suggestions, and constructive criticism8 in the preparation of the manuscript. Aknow1edgement is also made to Mr. W. J. Kirkham of the mathematics department who constructively criticized the part on statistical methods and formulas. The writer has been able to do this work and to benefit himse1of other graduate study only through the kindness of Mrs. Mary J. L. McDonald who has established the McDonald fellowship in forestry.